[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”78″ gal_title=”Alfa Romeo Giulia”]

Alfa returned to the US market several months ago with the lightweight low volume 4C and it was a pretty big deal for Fiat/Chrysler its owner.

Now Alfa Romeo is aiming higher with the ‘s new Giulia compact exec to challenge the 3-series/C-class/XE/A4 sector and  will officially be revealed on 24 June 2015.

The core engine for entry level models will be a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine in several states of tune, as well as a suite of turbo diesels including a 3.0-litre V6 (probably not US bound) , also borrowed from Maserati.

The Italian company hasn’t revealed specific performance figures for each unit, although best guesses are outputs of 180 hp, 250 hp and 330 hp respectively. The six-cylinder petrol could produce around 500bhp in its most powerful state of tune.

That power will come from a version of the Maserati Ghibli’s Ferrari-built 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6, producing between 480bhp and 520bhp – the exact figure is yet to be decided. That should scare off the M3 which only has 425 hp.

The platform will be rear-wheel drive which will no doubt please fans who have had to make do with front drive platforms from Fiat in the past. The rear drive platform will be lighter than the M3 a sign that Alpha is finally getting its mojo back. To help control all that power, expect a limited-slip differential and a dual-clutch gearbox as standard.

Alfa Romeo is touting the new Giulia as a BMW 3 Series rival and is expected to arrive in European showrooms in February or March next year.